Bangladesh's Economy
Women, Garments and Social Change
How garment factory jobs brought millions of Bangladeshi women into paid work, and research on how this delayed marriage and raised girls' education.
Bangladesh’s garment industry employs around 4 million workers, a large share of them women.
Social impact
- Women from rural areas moved to Dhaka and Chittagong for factory jobs.
- For many, it was their first independent income.
Research
Economists Rachel Heath and Mushfiq Mobarak found that girls living near garment factories were more likely to stay in school and marry later, as families saw the value of education for factory jobs.
Bargaining power
Earning women gained more say in household decisions.
Challenges
- Low wages: minimum wage protests in 2023 led to a raise to 12,500 taka a month.
- Long hours and harassment.
- Automation reducing women’s share of jobs in newer factories.
Comparison with India
India’s female labour participation has been lower; Bangladesh’s example shows how labour-intensive manufacturing can draw women into work.
A 19-year-old from a village gets a job in a Dhaka garment factory. Her younger sister stays in school longer, as the family sees education leading to better jobs.
They also raised women's education and bargaining power.
- Garments employ about 4 million, many women.
- Factory jobs gave women independent incomes.
- Research found girls stayed in school longer and married later.
- Low wages and automation are concerns.
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